The 2017 GP3 Series Driver's Champion talks about his season to the GP3 Media Team

Thoughts of the 2017 GP3 Series Champion George Russell

The 2017 GP3 Series Driver's Champion talks about his season to the GP3 Media Team

Thoughts of the 2017 GP3 Series Champion George Russell

October 8, 2017

Circuito de Jerez

Circuito de Jerez

The 2017 GP3 Series Driver's Champion talks about his season to the GP3 Media Team

Thoughts of the 2017 GP3 Series Champion George Russell

Published:

October 8, 2017

at

11:11 am

The GP3 Series Media Team sat down with the new 2017 GP3 Series Driver's Champion George Russell - after he took the title at Jerez with two races to spare!

GP3 Series: George Russell, GP3 Series Champion. How does that feel?

George Russell: It feels fantastic! Firstly, I would
like to give a massive thank you to everybody at ART Grand Prix: they
have been absolutely incredible with all four of us. And then secondly, I
would like to thank Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport. They’ve obviously
helped me a lot this season, they put their faith in me at the start of
the year, and they have developed me into a better driver to get me
into this position today.

GP3 Series: How important has your personal relationship with ART Grand Prix been for you this campaign?

George: It has been massively important. It’s helped
to have three extremely fast and intelligent teammates. We all got
along very well this season and we have all come together after every
session to talk with the engineers and to push the team forward. I think
it’s quite easy for either of us to say ART had the best car and the
reason behind it was that we worked so well as a team. We’ve been able
to push in the right direction to give us that car.

GP3 Series: How difficult was the title battle with your teammates across the season especially with Jack Aitken?

George: To be honest, I have not really thought
about the title so much: this was the first weekend I ever really
thought about it. Even then, like I said yesterday, I came into this
event with the same mind-set as always: to try and put it on pole and
win Race 1. I could not accomplish that, but my second objective was to
try and beat my main rival, which was Jack [Aitken]. I went into the
race today knowing what I had to do: I had to beat him by one place and
try and get the fastest lap. As we all know, this circuit is extremely
difficult to overtake. I saw an opportunity on the first lap into Turn 6
and I took it.

GP3 Series: When did you believe you could win this title?

George: Quite early on to be honest. After
Barcelona’s “disappointment” let’s say, we had a test in Budapest
between the first and second round. I set myself the goal that I could
put it on pole every single race from then until the end of the season.
It was almost there: I put it on pole three times. Unfortunately
yesterday it did not go to plan, but that was my target. Throughout the
season, I felt I had the team around me to be able to do that and win
the races we won.

GP3 Series: What were the highlights and lowlights of your campaign?

George: The lowlight was definitely Budapest, when
we started second on the grid and we didn’t get to start the race. The
highlight was probably…I don’t know. Potentially it was the qualifying
session in Spa: I felt like that was a really great performance from all
of us in the team. We absolutely dominated the session although we only
put it on pole by 3 tenths. I think that was a highlight for me.
Obviously, now today is the biggest highlight!

GP3 Series: What does this title mean for the team and the people behind you?

George: I’m sure it means a lot to the team, but
they are fairly used to winning this category. At the start of the year,
Mercedes set a clear goal for me and that was to go out and win this
title no matter how I do it: win every race or finish second in every
race as Esteban [Ocon] almost did in 2015. That was a clear objective.
I’ve had plenty of messages already from them saying congratulations.
I’m sure they’re happy.

GP3 Series: How big their part has played in your success as well?

George: I think they’ve played a big part. Being
part of their team and spending time in their debriefs with Lewis
[Hamilton] and Valtteri [Bottas], just seeing how they analyse the data
and feed back to the team. From that side that really helped me. Also
I’ve done four days of F1 testing this season, two in the 2015 car and
two in the 2016 car. I’ve picked up a lot about how to use the Pirelli
tyres, how to look after the temperatures, as we all know tyre
management is quite crucial in GP3, Formula 2 and Formula 1. They’ve
helped me a lot…

GP3 Series: What are your plans for next season?

George: At the moment, there is nothing sorted.
Obviously, Formula 1 is my clear goal, but I think for next season
everything is tight down there unfortunately for me. As we all know this
sport is all about performing at the right time. I think it’s most
likely going to be Formula 2. That’s what I would like to do. I think it
makes more sense to be in the limelight of the F1 team, having the guys
around me if I need. And obviously, Formula 2 is a step below Formula
1. I’d say it is most likely, but we’re still in talks with teams at the
moment.

LETTTSSS GOOO!!! 🙌 https://t.co/Dqyu1arVAk

LETTTSSS GOOO!!! 🙌 https://t.co/Dqyu1arVAk

June 1, 2020

We all have a voice to speak up for what’s right – and until now I didn’t know how to use mine in this situation. To echo @Charles_Leclerc's words, I just felt out of place sharing my thoughts on these atrocities publicly. [1/3] #BlackLivesMatter

We all have a voice to speak up for what’s right – and until now I didn’t know how to use mine in this situation. To echo @Charles_Leclerc's words, I just felt out of place sharing my thoughts on these atrocities publicly. [1/3] #BlackLivesMatter